This fall Zoe has been really into making her own medicine. Harvesting, processing and bottling….

The End

When I was One,
I had just begun.
When I was Two,
I was nearly new.
When I was Three
I was hardly me.
When I was Four,
I was not much more.
When I was Five, I was just alive.
But now I am Six, I’m as clever as clever,
So I think I’ll be six now for ever and ever.

By A.A Milne

Let the Circus begin….

a day of learning about birds, beaks and nests at red gate farm

in the rain

while weaving a giant birds nest

local sculptor joe landry

built the frame and all the participants wove the black birch, sassafras and balsam fir in and out, out and in……

creating the perfect home for the big bird!

the Humback Whales we met off the coast of Glocester at Stellwagon Bank…New Englands first marine sanctuary (a known whale feeding ground)

We went out on Capt Bills Whale Watch boats

We spend the last days of August in Provincetown soaking in the sun, searching for sea creatures during the low tides  and rolling in the sand.  The weather blessed us with some of the most beautiful days of the season.

Highlights in pictures

Photographing a Sparkly 4th July Barn Raising at friends of ours in town

A week of Circus Camp at New England Center for Circus Arts

House Breaking a new Kitty Betsy Boadecia

One of our summer highlights Circus Smirkus

Here is Zoe’s favorite scene!

The place to be
Greenfield Farmers Market
Saturday July 11th
8am (wow!)-12:30

We’ll be there Smarty Pants and yours truly!

Lots of fun new designs

Now this little side business of mine was never planned. I just started making things and people started requesting them and then I’d make a few extras and guess what people bought them…so now I have been making things and people have been buying them for a couple of years. I guess that I should get serious.  

-First of all I need a buisiness name (I am taking clever suggestions). When signing up for my first craft fair about a year and a half ago I needed a business name without too much thought I said “Night Owl Designs…” (for obvious reasons) but I do not love it. I mean I *love* owls, so maybe I just need a good logo, but it ain’t perfect. I would like something that fits better with “Smarty Pants” as we often do shows together (and even have a joint line of T-Shirts). I’ve had a few suggestions so far “Twisted Sisters”!! That one is quite revealing! or possibly “Sassy Skirts” hmmmm ideas welcome.

Here is the cowgirl set made for the cowgirl festival (plenty of these left)

 

 

 

3 Daylong Workshops offered at 

Blazing Star Herbal School 

July 12th 2009  10:30am-3pm $50 

Tonic Herbs for Optimum Health for detoxification and rejuvenation

We will explore nourishing herbs, medicinal foods and tonic herbs that strengthen our terrain, while supporting wellness, immunity, fertility and digestive and cardiovascular health. Together we will create a year long herbal protocol that encourages physical, emotional and spiritual well being that the whole family can participate in.  

July 19th 2009 10:30am-3pm $50

Basic Medicine Making

Herbal medicine is one of the oldest forms of healing and has been practised continuously from the earliest times. Over 80% of the worlds population still uses  herbs as their primary means of health-care. Although much has been lost traditional uses have been passed down to us in stories and songs….today we can reach back across thousands of years to join Achilles in making salves from Yarrow to heal wounds.

There is nothing quite as empowering as knowing how to make your own medicines. Herbs are magical but preparing and using them doesn’t have to be mystical. In this class we will learn how to make medicines from common herbs and foods in the form of vinegars, tinctures (alchohol, glycerine), honeys, teas (infusions, decoctions), salves, liniments and syrups. Restock Your medicine chest. Be prepared with natural remedies you make yourself for cuts, stings, burns, rashes, colds coughs and allergies. It‘s an easy, inexpensive, empowering  and very fun! 

Learning to create your herbal medicine at home is both empowering and eye-opening.

August 2nd 2009 10:30am-3pm $50

Teaching Herbal Medicine to Children

“When we teach children about plants as medicine it helps them develop a soulful, deep relationship with them” -Rosemary Gladstar 

Nurturing a childs relationship with herbs, involving them in the growing, harvesting and creating of herbal medicines is a way of life which involves a relationship with the earth. It can also lead to a continued practice of nurturing their health with the aid of natural remedies. In this class you will learn all you need to engage your childrens curiosity about 12 common herbs complete with stories, art projects, recipes,games and medicine making. Lots of resources provided.

Learning about the plants in person, where they grow, engages the senses as we smell, touch, see, and often taste our green allies. This approach helps us to integrate all we learn about plants as food and medicine.

**REGISTRATION INFORMATION**

You can register for the above classes by sending a deposit of $25 per class to 

Blazing Star Herbal School, 119 Pfersick Rd, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

You may also register using paypal please email me (tlemos@noho.co) for instructions

If you sign up for all 3 classes you will receive a discount of $25 and your total will be $125!!

Please register soon as classes are limited to 10 students. Thanks.

We invite you to study herbalism here at Blazing Star Herbal School in Ashfield. Learn to open your heart and engage the wisdom and spirit of the healing herbs with community herbalist, and teacher, Tony(a) Lemos.

I will also teaching at the following conferences/festivals:

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival

Thursday July 23rd 2009

- Tips for Maintaining Health while on the Road

NOFA MASS SUmmer Conference 

August 7-9 2009, UMASS Amherst

-Maintaining Optimum Health for the Whole Family

Planting The Future Conference

Saturday Sept 19th 2009

Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living Coventry, RI

- I will be leading a plant walk forcussing on First Aid uses of plants

Healing with Flowers Conference

Rowe Camp and Conference Center

Rowe MA Sept 25-27 2009

- Combining Flower Essences, Aromatherapy and Herbal Remedies in Clinical Practice

- Sacred Baths Workshop

On tuesday nights  “Smarty Pants” and I have been sewing together for about a year now. 

the smarty pants project 

is an endeavor to create funky affordable children’s pants using a combination of recycled, vintage, and donated fabrics

The Smarty Pants Project was conceived by Lisa Ganci. We’ve done a few craft shows together and are planning a few more BIG ones this fall. Our products work well together Lisa makes the pants, I make the skirts, crowns and hair accessories. Recently we have collaborated on some T-Shirts, here  and here and here.

Last night we had this great idea to use the perfect weather, the light, the setting sun and the idyllic area we live in for a photo shoot.

Here are some of the results